What did you do for your Gold Award project? In order to spread publicity for nonprofit junior golf organizations, promote the game of golf, and allow for anyone to pursue golf, I organized a junior golf scramble where older high school golfers came as mentors for younger girls to inspire and exemplify leadership to the younger golfers. Also, I raised enough money for the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf association to afford permanent golf clubs and bags, so that girls who cannot afford clubs can still pursue the game of golf. Last of all, I created a junior golf brochure highlighting the best junior golf organizations in the region as well as the tournaments to promote the game of golf. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured the impact my Gold Award made on my target audience by witnessing the enjoyment and admiration the younger girls had for their mentors on the tournament day. Also, through the grateful parents that eagerly took my brochures and were made aware of various junior golf organizations they previously didn’t know existed. Not only this, but my impact was clear when the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Association used their new junior set of golf clubs for the first time at the scramble where a family otherwise wouldn’t have been able to let their children play. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project is sustainable in the golf clubs that can be used by the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Association season after season for girls who cannot afford clubs. Additionally, I made a “How to Run a Junior Golf Scramble” guide in order for my tournament to easily be run long after I am out of the picture. Last of all, the organization has my Junior Golf Brochure that promotes the major local organizations and can be passed out to promote the game year after year. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? The global link is the fact that in my project I promoted a lifelong game and encouraged these girls to network, make new friends, meet older girls successful at this game pursuing collegiate college golf, and learn about the game while ensuring that every girl has the ability to partake in it regardless of their family income. Also, the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Association is a national organization as well as the First Tee and several other organizations that I promoted through the brochure ensuring that no matter where these junior golfers are taken they will always be able to play the game of golf. What did you learn about yourself? I learned so much about networking and organization from this project. I learned that most people want to see you succeed and will help you out and large organizations, like golf courses, are just made up of people who want to set you up for success. I learned that places like Cherokee Ridge and organizations like the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Association will help you out and all you needed to do was ask. I developed the ability to make lists of everything that needs to be done for a major project with lots of moving pieces and successfully bring them all together. Also, I learned to trust in the work that I’d done and not stress out the night before because I had planned it well enough to not worry too much. I learned there is nothing more on the planet that I love to do more than help others out and do something for the benefit of others. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award helps give me the confidence that I can tackle larger tasks and that seemingly impossible projects are doable especially if broken down into smaller steps. This experience will benefit me in the future, because of the lifelong skills I have learned and all the obstacles I was able to overcome to complete this project. Mainly, I know that in the future I will not shy away from a challenge, but am much more able to take on the task and accomplish the goal. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award was not only an important part of my Girl Scout experience, but an essential part of it, because it encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and make an impact. It taught me so much and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to positively impact the world. As a minor, there aren’t many times in your life that you feel you have made an enormous impact on the world, but the Girl Scout Gold Award experience has molded me into the leader I am today and truly helped me make an impact. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org #GoldAward #HighestAwards #GoldAwardee #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #PikesPeak #golf #HighestAwardsProgram

How will your girl spend her summer? Will she cook s’mores around a campfire with the new friends she’s made at Girl Scout Camp? Will she get a new view of the world from high atop a mountain or camp under the stars? Stories of those adventures and many more can fill her letters home, but only if you start planning now. Session listings for summer 2016 are now available on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website. Check them out, so you’ll know what to sign-up for when registration opens on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 9 a.m. You’ll want to register on this day if your girl wants to attend sessions that traditionally sell out quickly. For example: Horseback riding Boating Trips/travel Program Aides CIT 1 Training CIT 2 You’ll also want to register early if your girl wants to attend any of our sessions which are “back by popular demand.” Those include: · District 14 at Sky High Ranch- Ensure the odds are in your favor by honing your archery skills and learning new ones, such as canoeing and ziplining! A night under the stars will also increase your odds of becoming a victor. · Girl vs. Zombie at Tomahawk Ranch- Learn self-defense techniques, gain survival skills, create a disaster kit and develop your archery abilities— all in a rustic ‘survival’ setting. You’ll also have the chance to defend camp at night! · TARDIS at Tomahawk Ranch- As a Time Lord, you’ll slip through time and space, explore the secrets of the universe, and solve mysteries untold. You’ll even teach other campers to be careful and wary of the Daleks. · Zippers at Sky High Ranch- Just like every part of a zipper needs to work together, so will every girl in Zippers! Learn team-building and how to overcome personal challenges on the low ropes course and zipline. Also, be sure to check out some of our new sessions, which are designed for Girl Scouts ranging from Brownies to Ambassadors. · Adventure Olympics Go Pro at Sky High Ranch- Test your mettle and film yourself with a GoPro at the first-ever Sky High Adventure Olympics! Events include: ziplining, rock climbing, an off-site trail ride, swimming, canoeing, and archery. · Fabulously Famous at Tomahawk Ranch- This is your chance to earn your Digital Movie Maker Badge. Using a GoPro, you’ll film yourself shooting an arrow, building a fire, chasing a chicken, howling at the top of a mountain, making a s’more and so much more. · Farm Fillies at Sky High Ranch- Spend your days with farm animals, grooming and feeding them, then join us for a good ole’ fashioned Western hoe-down with dancing, goodies and more! This camp also includes a one-hour off-site horseback trail ride. · Treasure Hunters at Tomahawk Ranch- Seek the treasure and you shall find the lost secret of Tomahawk Ranch. Solve and follow clues by learning fort/shelter building, fire building, cooking outdoors, knife safety and other survival techniques! You might even have to walk our plank! Reminder: Even though registration for Girl Scout Camp 2016 starts Dec. 9, 2015, you will still have through April 30, 2016 to register and pay for camps at Early Bird Pricing. Other Important Dates First week of December: · If you have a registered Girl Scout entering 1st -12th grade in fall 2016, a camp brochure will be sent to your home. (Make sure your membership is up to date so you’ll be on the mailing list!) 1. One is for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors 2. One is for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors · Included is a complete listing of camps offered on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website *Note: Groups in your area may offer Girl Scout camps not listed on our website. Volunteer-led day camps, troop camps, family camps and one-day events may be added to the website after the brochure is printed. · If your girl attended a Girl Scout Camp in 2014 or 2015, you will receive an email through CampInTouch with instructions to log into your online account and ensure your girl is ready for registration. December 9: Registration for Girl Scout Camp opens at 9 a.m. through CampInTouch. You get there through the Girl Scouts of Colorado website. Be sure to use the most recent version of Google Chrome or Firefox to get the best experience in CampInTouch. *Note: Some camps with volunteer-run registration use different registration systems. January 19: New camp sessions and spaces will be added at 9 a.m. · We’ll add spaces in popular overnight sessions at Tomahawk Ranch and Sky High Ranch. · Other camp session changes or additions will be announced at this time. April 30: Early Bird pricing ends, at 11:59 p.m. Pay all fees by this date and lock in lowest rates for camp. *Note: Girl Scouts of Colorado offices will be closed for the holidays Dec. 20, 2015 – Jan. 3, 2016. The registration system will remain open, but support staff will not be available. #summercamp #SkyHighRanch #GirlScoutCamp #TomahawkRanch #girl #ColoradoGirlScoutCamp #camp

What did you do for your Gold Award project? Unfortunately, many teens with special needs are not invited to as many social events as their peers. I decided to write a detailed guide that laid out the specific steps for how to throw a high school party and include students with special needs. I used the methods in my book to throw a summer barbecue for the students, both special needs and able-bodied, at my high school. After writing this book, I distributed it to several schools in two school districts and some local teenagers as well. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? The impact was pretty obvious from the start. I was able to see how happy it made the children when they were invited to a party. I also spoke with the parents of some of the children with special needs and they also expressed that they saw a difference as well. Some other students at my high school were able to become closer and more connected with the special needs population there. Everyone showed a more positive attitude and higher level of acceptance following my project. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? I wrote a book for my project, so it can be easily reproduced and sent across the country. I have distributed the book to two Colorado school districts and friends and family across the nation. It is also being implemented at my high school in their Peer Partner program. The lasting impacts on all of the students will last a lifetime. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I hope to see an increase in overall acceptance amongst the special needs and able-bodied populations. I feel that by inviting children to high school parties offers them the opportunity to make new friends and lasting memories. Over time, I hope to see a general trend of acceptance and I believe my book is a great tool to inspire this change. I was ale to distribute the book to schools both within and outside of my personal school district. I distributed to manual to a Washington school district as well. The schools are looking into using the manual to inspire inclusion amongst teens. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I can make something happen even if the odds are against me. My project had an extremely limited timeline, only about two months. Many girls spend upwards of a year on their projects and I had to achieve the same level of execution. In two months, I was able to write and distribute a book. I also learned that it is ok to ask for help from time to time, but I also have to rely on myself. My Girl Scout troop was extremely helpful when it came to coming up with ideas and execution of the project. I was able to organize and accomplish my Gold Award in two months and now other projects seem a lot less daunting. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Immediately, my Gold Award will help me in college. There are so many scholarships that are applicable to Gold Award recipients. Long term, having “Gold Award Recipient” on my resume can only benefit me. This achievement shows that I am a leader, organized, thoughtful, persistent, and hardworking. Those qualities can help present me in the best possible light to potential employers. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I have been in Girl Scouts for 14 years. Ever since I was a Daisy in Fort Monroe, Virginia, to when I was an Ambassador in Colorado Springs, Colorado, I knew that I wanted to go all the way and achieve my Gold Award. Having achieved the highest award in Girl Scouts means that I have distinguished myself amongst my peers. I have and will receive countless benefits from achieving my Gold Award. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org #GoldAward #HighestAwards #GoldAwardee #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #PikesPeak #HighestAwardsProgram

Submitted by Stacie Haden Parker Denver Metro Troop 4289 earned their Bronze award by repainting the barely visible USA map at a local Elementary School. They were able to obtain the supplies for the project by petitioning the PTO at the school. One of the toughest obstacles was finding a full two days to paint with no rain in the forecast. The girls truly enjoyed themselves and left with a sense of pride, that their work would be there for many years to come. The Principal, teachers and students have all expressed their gratitude for the hard work put in and making this educational part of their black top so bright and beautiful. Great job girls! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #BronzeAward #Denvermetro #Parker

Submitted by Cortney Kern Denver Over the past five years I had the honor to work for the Girl Scouts of Colorado as the Program Manager and Community Partnerships Manager. When I begun my journey with the organization, I started off working in the Grand Junction office. While there, I made some amazing friends at work and was able to explore the beauty that is the western part of Colorado. Grand Junction served as a good location for me at the time as I moved there right when I got out of the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Morocco. The slower pace of life helped settle me back in to living in the United States. After about six months of living in Grand Junction, the Girl Scouts gave me the opportunity to move to Denver. This was a huge blessing and started out a chain of events that I would not have changed for the world. When I arrived in Denver, within only a week, I met my husband, even though at the time I did not know it. Now, five years later we have a brand new daughter who I hope will one day will be a Girl Scout. Not only did Girl Scouts in help lead me to my family, I have also learned valuable lessons in communication with others and gained experience supporting and being a part of a team. Even though I am no longer an employee of the Girl Scouts of Colorado, I am still a Girl Scout at heart. Through my experiences, I have gained the courage and confidence to branch out on my own and follow my passion into wellness and business coaching. I am taking the lessons I was teaching younger Girl Scouts members and now living it out on my own by being a business owner with Kern Wellness. If it wasn’t for my time at Girl Scouts, I could not imagine being in a position in my life where I am now and could make this happen. So thank you Girl Scouts for believing in me from the beginning, letting me grow with you and supporting me in my next chapter. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Denver #GrandJunction

Marlene and Julie by the boats! Camp Director Silver The Girl Scouts of Colorado boating program is stronger than ever with the donation of kayaks and more in honor of a special volunteer. Early this summer Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club (RMSKC) members Marlene Pakish and Julie Rekart donated their first kayaks to the GSCO boating program  in honor of long-time RMSKC member Lou Ann Hustvedt, who recently lost her battle with cancer. Lou Ann, known as “Skipper” to the Scouts, had taught boating skills and knowledge to hundreds of young women in summer camps for more than two decades. Their generous donation included paddles, PFDs, spray skirts, cockpit covers and several other items. The boats were complete and ready to provide many years of service to the troop that Lou Ann loved and served. RMSKC’s Brian Hunter, called “Splash” while instructing at Girl Scout camp, picked up the kayaks from Marlene and Julie and gave them a good going-over before delivering them and other donated gear to the Scouts’ Summer Day Camp at Big Soda Lake in Bear Creek Park. Brian and Belle “Hedgehog” Bashaw (lead Girl Scout Kayak Instructor and a new RMSKC member) took the Carolinas for a test paddle. They agreed the boats were a perfect fit for the Girl Scout program: the kayaks accelerated quickly and were nimble on the water. They reported that they held an edge nicely and turned on a dime. In addition to the donations of the best inflatable boat for fishing, gear, and a RMSKC fund in Lou Ann’s name, Brian and Clark “Bald Eagle” Strickland taught for a week at Girl Scout Boating Camp this summer. Article written by Louise “Silver” Bashaw, Troop Leader and Volunteer Summer Day Camp Director, and Sue “Grendel” Hughes #boating #camp #Colorado

Join Girl Scouts of Colorado in congratulating Gold Award recipient Christina Bear of Golden! She was recently named a Congressional Award Gold Medalist for 2016. The Congressional Award is the United States Congress’ award for young Americans. It is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds; young people may register when they turn 13 1/2 years old and must complete their activities before their 24th birthday. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas; Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Earning the Award is a fun and interesting way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you’d like to try for the first time. You move at your own pace – on your own or with your friends. This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, you are honored for achieving your own challenging goals after registering for the program. In 2015, Christina earned her Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts, for organizing a week-long summer program for Latino students at Horizons Summer Program at Colorado Academy. Through informal learning in computer and robot programming and mini-science experiments, students were engaged and excited about technology. Christina is the 2015 recipient of the Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize. In November 2015, she will be awarded the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Christina has also won the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, Jefferson County Public Health Champions, Presidential Environmental Youth Service Award, Prudential Spirit of Community Award, Children’s Environmental Health Network Youth Leadership Award and International Action for Nature Eco-Hero Award. #Golden #GoldAward #StephanieFoote #ChristinaBear #Denver #MetroDenver #GoldAwardees #CongressionalAwardGoldMedalist

Tuesday evening, Oct. 20th, Girl Scouts of Colorado honored the 2015 Women of Distinction during the Thin Mint Dinner, which was presented by Western Union, at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Denver. A group of nearly 450 gathered at the event, held in conjunction with Women of Distinction events statewide. So far this year, these events have raised $225,000 for Girl Scout programs. The 2015 Women of Distinction for the Denver metro-area are: Shirley Amore, Retired City Librarian, Denver Public Library Kim Bimestefer, President & General Manager, Cigna Mountain States Laura J. Davis, Former Director of Environmental, Health & Safety and Systems Safety Engineering, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Cheryl Haggstrom, Executive Vice President, Community First Foundation L. Hanson, President, Idyll Cravings, LLC Djuana Harvell, PhD, be well/be EPIC Project Manager, The Stapleton Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities Tasha L. Jones, Director of Marketing, Forest City Stapleton, Inc. Loretta P. Martinez, General Counsel & Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Metropolitan State University of Denver Vicki Scott, Program Manager, Aurora Youth Options, Aurora Mental Health Center Debbie Trujillo, Community Relations Director, KeyBank The event was chaired by Women of Distinction Luella Chavez D’Angelo, Chief Communications Officer, The Western Union Company, and Donna Lynne, President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado. The honorees were selected by a committee of their peers led by Selection Chair Alice Kelly, 2002 Woman of Distinction. They are shining examples of corporate, civic and philanthropic leadership and serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow. Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Christina Bear inspired the crowd with her keynote. “My Gold Award journey has shown me I can be and AM a leader. Skills I have learned, as a Girl Scout will apply to my future career.” Christina told the crowd. Since 1997 Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized 416 Denver area women with this honor. More than $2 million has been raised in 18 years by Women of Distinction for Girl Scout programs. Major Sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor, Western Union, and Silver Sponsors, UMB and Lockheed Martin. Samoa Sponsors: Arrow Electronics, Davita HealthCare Partners, Delta Dental, EKS&H Management LLC, Forest City Stapleton, Hogan Lovells, Molson Coors and Volunteers of America. For more information on the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction program, visit our website. #funddevelopment #MetroDenver #WomenofDisctinction #fundraising #WomenofDistinctionDenver

Submitted by Cathy Steiglitz Colorado Springs Pikes Peak The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve.  Earning the award involves completing a Journey and then a minimum of 20 hours on a project that will have a positive impact on the community. Several girls from Troop 4140 at The Vanguard School earned the prestigious award.  Their project was centered on the environment and ways to help and protect our natural resources. After numerous hours of research, the girl created a video communicating what they had learned in a fun and educational manner.  This video, entitled “One Small Step for Kids; One Giant Leap for Planet Earth”, can be seen on YouTube.  Their message is that everyone, no matter how old or young, can take steps that will have a positive impact on the environment. The following girls earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award: Alexandra C. Kianna G. Ciera H. Tailynn P. Elleana P. Aspen S. Cady S. Aurora T. Izabella V. #BronzeAward #ColoradoSprings #HighestAwards #PikesPeak

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I decided to redesign and make new tables for a local summer camp, Sky Ranch. My project consisted of drafting a design,  woodworking, and some heavy lifting to get the eight heavy-duty tables up to the camp, in time for summer camp sessions. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured this project by noting how Sky Ranch was impacted. They now had more usable tables that were needed. I also viewed the future impact, knowing these tables would last for many years, that the future target audience would also enjoy the benefits of these tables throughout for their cookouts and camping sessions. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? The staff at Sky Ranch will continue to maintain the property and care for the tables until at some point they need to be replaced again.  My project can then be continued by someone else, possibly another Girl Scout working on her Gold Project. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My project has a link to the nation’s generations as campers from around the United States and from other countries attend Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp.  I also have been in contact with several other summer camps, including church summer camps, 4-H Camps, and Girl Scouts providing them the blueprints and plans for the picnic tables. This project started for a small camp in Colorado, but has expanded to impact camps around the nation, as well as their campers and families who use those tables. What did you learn about yourself? I learned additional drafting skills and how to develop a workable blueprint. I also gained greater knowledge in woodworking and working safely with power tools. Communication skills were definitely part of the mix of developed skills that helped complete this project.  I gained additional practical life skills in promoting this project to solicit volunteers and how to address people who wished to donate money or volunteer their time to help build the tables.  One skill that I particularly enhanced during this project was critical thinking and empowerment. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award will impact my future by pushing me to use my new leadership skills with the Girl Scout Promise and Law in my life, as guiding principles. For example, through my Gold Award process, I was constantly reminded how important these principles are for a future leader and everyday encounters. Whether it be talking with a school or college instructor, hanging out with friends, or planning my future. Through this process I have strived to gain more leadership abilities and the courage to apply as a Minnesota State 4-H Ambassador, and will use these leadership skills in my everyday life while working with others and being passionate to do and become great leaders. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award was a very important part of my Girl Scout experience because it directed me to look at things in a new light.  To see what I could do to change my community for the better and in the future possibly help to design new inventions to aid the world. The impact of this Gold project provided me the insight to look around my community to see people or organizations who are in need of help. With Girl Scouts, we as girls and young women can learn to see the needs in the area, and use recourses to find a creative way to improve their communities. The Girl Scouts and this Gold Project has helped me gain self confidence and improve my leadership abilities along with communication skills. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I addressed the disorganized mess of music, school-owned instruments, and accessories scattered throughout the entire band room and director’s office at Elizabeth High School. I created an electronic filing system. It included list of school-owned instruments and equipment with their specific accessories and it placed labels on the shelf with the proper instrument name where each instrument belongs. Included in the spreadsheet was the instrument type, brand, serial number, and accessories that were included in the case. I also created an electronic spreadsheet, detailing every piece and score of music that Elizabeth High School owned, separating them by ensemble in alphabetical order with a corresponding number in the spreadsheet. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured the impact of my Gold Award project to years past. Compared to past years, when school got out this year, the band room was much more organized and students had returned everything, so nothing was missing! All music was filed alphabetically in a neat and orderly fashion, in approximately 10 filing cabinet drawers.  All school-owned instruments were in their proper homes on top of the band lockers. Our band director had a checkout sheet to be used by students who needed to check out instruments. Mouthpieces and other miscellaneous accessories had been counted and stored in one central location, and were to be checked out when needed for use. All percussion equipment, including marching band drums, had been inventoried and inspected to ensure they were in working order. All percussion equipment had a proper storage location in the drum closet. When you looked around the band room, it was very neat and orderly – a big improvement from the past! How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project can be sustained beyond my involvement because I established this user-friendly, electronic system that can be used by anyone. This system can easily be transferred from one director’s computer to the next. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? As for a national or global connection, my project includes a user friendly system that could spread beyond the walls of my high school. If our current director were to leave Elizabeth High School, she may take a copy of the filing system with her and establish it at other schools. Word of mouth could inspire other directors to implement a similar system in their own schools. I also created a small packet including a letter explaining the background on my project, examples of how to format the music and instrument inventory spreadsheets, and finally a cost outline. This packet was emailed to the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association to pass onto other first year instrumental music directors to help them get organized during their first few years. What did you learn about yourself? I developed many skills while completing my Girl Scout Gold Award. I was able to improve my time management skills, planning around my family, work, school and social life, finding time to work with my band directors on the music filing system. My organizational skills greatly improved, especially when trying to find a proper space for everything. I also improved my computer skills, since I used Google Document Spreadsheet for my organizational music filing system. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? The bulk of my project was organization and I feel this will really help me with my future career goals. My dream is to become an elementary school teacher and I plan to use my improved organizational skills in my classroom, benefiting both my students and myself. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel that earning my Gold Award was just another step in my Girl Scout experience. I have been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten and step by step I went from being the cute little Daisy Girl Scout all the way to a Girl Scout Ambassador,  ready to start the next journey in life. My Gold Award was just another step in helping me become who I am today. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org #GoldAward #HighestAwards #GoldAwardee #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #PikesPeak

Girl Scout Camp: it’s where you cooked s’mores around the campfire; got a new view of the world from high atop a mountain; camped under the stars; and made lifelong friends. Those stories and more filled your letters home. Your girl can send those same greetings from Girl Scout Camp home to you, but only if you start planning now. Girl Scouts of Colorado has moved up the opening registration date for summer camp to Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 9 a.m. You’ll want to register on this day, if your girl wants to attend sessions that traditionally sell out quickly. For example: horseback riding boating trips/travel Program Aides CIT 1 Training CIT 2 You’ll also want to register early if your girl wants to attend any of our sessions, which are “back by popular demand.” Those include: · District 14 at Sky High Ranch- Ensure the odds are in your favor by honing your archery skills and learning new ones, such as canoeing and ziplining! A night under the stars will also increase your odds of becoming a victor. · Girl vs. Zombie at Tomahawk Ranch- Learn self-defense techniques, gain survival skills, create a disaster kit, and develop your archery abilities— all in a rustic ‘survival’ setting. You’ll also have the chance to defend camp at night! · TARDIS at Tomahawk Ranch- As a Time Lord, you’ll slip through time and space, explore the secrets of the universe, and solve mysteries untold. You’ll even teach other campers to be careful and wary of the Daleks. · Zippers at Sky High Ranch- Just like every part of a zipper needs to work together, so will every girl in Zippers! Learn team-building and how to overcome personal challenges on the low ropes course and zipline. Also, be sure to check out some of our new sessions, which are designed for Girl Scouts ranging from Brownies to Ambassadors. · Adventure Olympics Go Pro at Sky High Ranch- Test your mettle and film yourself with a GoPro at the first-ever Sky High Adventure Olympics! Events include: ziplining, rock climbing, an off-site trail ride, swimming, canoeing, and archery. · Go`s Pro at Tomahawk Ranch- This is your chance to earn your Digital Movie Maker Badge. Using a GoPro, you’ll film yourself shooting an arrow, building a fire, chasing a chicken, howling at the top of a mountain, making a s’more and so much more. · Farm Fillies at Sky High Ranch- Spend your days with farm animals, grooming and feeding them, then join us for a good ole’ fashioned Western hoe-down with dancing, goodies and more! This camp also includes an off-site horseback trail ride. · Treasure Hunters at Tomahawk Ranch- Seek the treasure and you shall find the lost secret of Tomahawk Ranch. Solve and follow clues by learning fort/shelter building, fire building, cooking outdoors, knife safety, and other survival techniques! You might even have to walk our plank! Learn more about these sessions and all sessions for Girl Scout Camp 2016 when they’re published on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website in early November. We’ll send an email to parents to let you know when it is ready. Reminder: Even though registration for Girl Scout Camp 2016 starts Dec. 9, 2015, you will still have through April 30, 2016 to register and pay for camps at Early Bird Pricing. Other Important Dates: First week of December: · If you have a registered Girl Scout entering 1st -12th grade in fall 2016, a camp brochure will be sent to your home. (Make sure your membership is up to date so you’ll be on the mailing list!) 1. One is for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors 2. One is for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors · Included is a complete listing of camps offered on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website *Note: Groups in your area may offer Girl Scout camps not listed on our website. Volunteer-led day camps, troop camps, family camps, and one-day events may be added to the website after the brochure is printed. If your girl attended a Girl Scout Camp in 2014 or 2015, you will receive an email through CampInTouch with instructions to log into your online account and ensure your girl is ready for registration. December 9:  Registration for Girl Scout Camp opens at 9 a.m. through CampInTouch. You get there through the Girl Scouts of Colorado website. Be sure to use the most recent version of Google Chrome or Firefox to get the best experience in CampInTouch. *Note: Some camps with volunteer-run registration use different registration systems. January 19: New camp sessions and spaces will be added at 9 a.m. · We’ll add spaces in popular overnight sessions at Tomahawk Ranch and Sky High Ranch. · Other camp session changes or additions will be announced at this time. April 30: Early Bird pricing ends, at 11:59 p.m. Pay all fees by this date and lock in lowest rates for camp. *Note: Girl Scouts of Colorado offices will be closed for the holidays Dec. 20, 2015 – Jan. 3, 2016. The registration system will remain open, but support staff will not be available. #daycamp #overnightcamp #residentcamp #SkyHighRanch #TomahawkRanchCamps #TomahawkRanch #SkyHighRanchCamp #Tomahawk #camp #TomahawkRanchCamp